January 5, 2025 - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! - We recognize many dates of significance that are celebrated and commemorated in January. "Later this month, on January 21, is Lincoln Alexander Day. This day commemorates the Ontario-born trailblazer and former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario who championed racial equality in Canada. Lunar New Year will be celebrated by many Asian communities and cultures on January 29. Every year, the start of the lunar calendar symbolizes renewal, family and hope. January is Tamil Heritage Month, which recognizes the valuable contributions that Tamil Canadians have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric."

Please see more on the January Days of Significance recognized by the Ontario Government below - 

The month of January is recognized by the TDSB as Tamil Heritage Month. This year’s theme for Tamil Heritage Month is:

Kinship: 
யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர் // Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir 

To us, all towns are one, and all people are our kin

Toronto has the largest Tamil population outside of the South Asian subcontinent with thousands of TDSB students and staff members who identify as Tamil.

The importance of building awareness, creating a strong self and collective identities, and understanding one's own roots and rights are important objectives of the Tamil Heritage Month volunteer planning committee.

We are proud to recognize Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB through various educational opportunities for students to learn about the history, culture, and traditions. For further information about Tamil Heritage Month, please follow on twitter to learn interesting facts on Tamil customs and traditions @TDSB_Tamil.

The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Meetings will be broadcasted live to the public. Click here at the start time to view - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings.

Full Agenda and Reports for meetings are available here - click on the appropriate meeting https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes

View full schedule of meetings for 2024-2025 here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings

Wednesday, January 8, 2025 – Governance and Policy Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda

Thursday, January 9, 2025 – Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda

There are a number of TDSB Programs with January Program Deadlines - please see descriptions below.

Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry) - Applications to the Middle French Immersion program may be submitted, on behalf students in the English program, the year the child is in Grade 3 for entry in September of Grade 4.

It is entirely an online process. All communications will be sent via the email address provided in the online process. Please check your email regularly, including junk mail and spam folders. 

Application process opens: January 6, 2025 in the morning Deadline for applications: January 31, 2025 at 11:59pm  

High Performing Athlete Programs - In order to meet the demands of intense training schedules, these high performing athlete programs provide more flexible timetables to balance school with out-of-school commitments so that athletes can strive for both academic and athletic excellence. Additionally, special consideration is given to missed class time as a result of competition. There are six sites offering these programs in September 2025. The eligibility criteria have been revised to only include student-athletes who are competing on a provincial or national level, and training for a minimum of 12 hours (elementary) or 15 hours (secondary) per week. The application will open on January 6, 2025 and remain open until January 31, 2025.

Should spaces remain available after that time, the application will re-open later in the Spring for student-athletes who qualify at a later date. Moving forward, the application is intended to remain open for continuous intake, where space is available, to meet the needs of newly eligible student-athletes. For more details about the programs and the link to the online application, visit the High Performing Athlete Program webpage.

Secondary Schools Without a Boundary - The legacy technical and commercial boundaries for the five schools listed below have been dissolved to expand access to all students in Toronto. Beginning with admissions for September 2025, all interested students must apply for entry to a Secondary School without a Boundary (SSWAB) regardless of where they live (see below for details, including application deadline). The Secondary Schools without a Boundary are: Central Technical School, Central Toronto Academy, Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, Western Technical-Commercial School, Northern Secondary School (Students wishing to attend Northern Secondary School who do not live within the Collegiate boundary for that school must apply through this process to attend Northern Secondary School.)

The application for SSWAB can be found within the Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions application.
The application opens on January 6, 2025 and the deadline to apply is January 24, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Applicants can opt to apply for: One Out-of-Area Option, One Secondary School without a Boundary Option or Both an Out-of-Area option and a Secondary School without a Boundary option. If applying to both and if offered a seat in both, applicants may only accept the seat at one school.The decision to decline a seat cannot be undone. Learn more about the dissolution of the legacy technical and commercial boundaries.  Learn more about the Admission Priorities for Secondary Schools without a Boundary.

Night School 2024-2025 Semester 2 for Secondary Students - Registration  closes Friday, January 31, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.  For more information, please visit https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/conedsecondarycreditprogram/Night-School

Elearning is still open: https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/elearning/e-Learning-Day-School

Elementary Out-of-Area Admissions - The Elementary Out-of-Area Admissions application process will open on January 6, 2025. Students have the opportunity to access schools outside of the school that is designated to serve their home address by applying for Out-of-Area Admissions. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability. Find more information and details here.

If you are interested in attending a school other than your designated school by address, applicants can submit one online application. When applying for Out-of-Area admissions, applicants may include one (1) school choice in their application. Transportation is the responsibility of the applicant when attending an Out-of-Area school. Applicants may select Regular program, Early Immersion or a Middle/Extended Immersion Program. If selecting a French program, the applicant must already be enrolled or registered for the selected French program.

Students applying for Out-of-Area Admissions in JK should also still register at their local/designated school by address in case they are not selected at their requested school. If selected, the parent/guardian/caregiver must notify the local school.

Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions - The Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions application process will open on January 6, 2025. Students have the opportunity to access schools outside of the school that is designated to serve their home address by applying for Out-of-Area Admissions. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability. Find more information and details here.

If you are interested in attending a school other than your designated school by address, applicants can submit one online application. When applying for Out-of-Area admissions, applicants may include one (1) school choice in their application. Applicants may also include one (1) Secondary School without a Boundary choice in their application. Transportation is the responsibility of the applicant when attending an Out-of-Area school.

Elementary Alternative Schools Online Application Process - Did you know the TDSB offers a wide range of Elementary Alternative Schools available to students? The application process is managed centrally and includes an online application form. Complete information about the central online application process is available on the Elementary Alternative Schools Application and Admissions Process webpage. The online application for admission for September 2025 will be open from Monday, January 6, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. to Friday, January 31, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. 

TDSB staff hosted two Elementary Alternative Schools live webinars - a recording of the webinars are posted on the Elementary Alternative Schools Application and Admissions Process webpage. 

Kindergarten Registration 2025 - New this year, registration for all TDSB English Kindergarten programs will begin January 6. We are opening the registration window a month earlier to better align with other system-wide application processes such as Out-of-Area and Alternative Schools.

This alignment will streamline timelines for families and support their decision-making around possible program options for their child(ren). Children who will be four by December 31, 2025, can start Junior Kindergarten in September 2025. Learn more about Kindergarten at the TDSB, Before- and After-School Programs and Extended Day Programs.

Please click here to access the FAQs - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Going-to-High-School/Beyond-8/FAQ.

To help you make an informed decision when choosing a school, TDSB schools will host in-person open houses and information sessions for parents/guardians and students between November and January. Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools, programs and courses. If you have questions about a specific school or open house, please contact the school directly for more information.

Note: Please check this page regularly, as secondary schools will continue to post information about open house dates/times.

To locate your designated elementary home school by address, please Find Your School - By Address. Schools that offer Central Student Interest Programs and local programs will host open houses and information sessions for parents/guardians and students between November and February. Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools and programs. If you have questions about a specific school, please visit the school’s website or contact the school directly for more information.

Note: Please check this page regularly, as elementary schools will continue to post information about open house dates/times.

During this respiratory virus season, I encourage you to review tips from Toronto Public Health (TPH) to help prevent the spread of infections in schools and communities.

Here are a few suggestions from TPH to help keep everyone safe:

On-Call Replacement Roster

There is a new Recruitment platform for applications for the On-Call Replacement Roster.

Click on the "Click here to apply for On-Call Replacement opportunities". If you require assistance with creating a profile please click here. These positions are casual/on-call for short term assignments. You must be available at least 3 days per week. Assignments are in schools... Positions include the following:

Black Student Summer Leadership Program (BSSLP)

Through partnership with TDSB’s Research and Development Department, Continuing Education’s Focus on Youth Initiative and recently, the Co-operative Education Department, the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement facilitates this summer learning opportunity for Black students in Grades 10 to 12 at Toronto District School Board.

Check the link for more information. Registration now open. Registration closes January 10, 2025.

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO)

There are several items to share from SMHO - mental health matters!

Speaker's Idol - Speeches due on January 31, 2025

FSWC’s Speaker’s Idol is an annual public-speaking competition open to Canadian students in grades 6 to 12. Students are asked to reflect on a selected quote by Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal, relate the quote to a human rights issue of their choice, and discuss ways in which they envision countering this issue and creating positive change in our world.
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The first stage of the Speaker's Idol program is a written submission, followed by three rounds of oral presentations.
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If you have any questions about Speaker's Idol 2025, please reach out to education@fswc.ca

Virtual Office Hours - Pathway To Care For Mental Health with the TDSB Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Committee

Join us for an engaging presentation titled "What Is Mental Health?" designed specifically for parents, guardians, and caregivers. The presentation will be co-facilitated by members of the TDSB Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Committee, alongside TDSB Professional Support Staff and TDSB Mental Health Leads. Together, they will share valuable insights, resources, and tools to empower families in fostering positive mental health and resilience.

The virtual session takes place January 15, 2025 from 7 to 8 p.m. Please see the following links for the event flyer and additional Virtual Office events.

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Consultation is a two-way communication process between the Board and external participants, including students and their parents/guardians, school councils, advisory committees, community members, different levels of government, service agencies, professional organizations and union partners. The objective of consultation is to gather public input regarding options, alternative courses of action, as well as to identify unintended effects for various participants and to find solutions. 

Use of Copyright Protected Works Policy (P079)

Draft New Policy [docx] Draft New Policy [pdf]

Objective - To provide direction to all staff, students, Trustees, third party service providers, parents/guardians/caregivers, partners, and volunteers, regarding their rights and obligations in the use of copyright protected works for learning experiences and school or Board business. Closes February 1, 2025.

If you have any questions related to the development and consultation of the Policy, please feel free to contact us at: suzan.joueid@tdsb.on.ca

As I repeat in every update, the TDSB collects data through the Bias and Hate (RBH) Portal, and the increase in antisemitic incidents is also being experienced in our schools - on my website I have excerpted from all our public reports on the data - TDSB Public Reports with RBH Portal Data 2018-2023. Principals and Superintendents are being reminded of their responsibilities in documenting incidents and educating against them. All students and staff - all students and staff - must be safe in our schools and free from discrimination, harassment and hate. 

You can read more on TDSB's Combating Hate and Racism Strategy on our website. It is important that there is accurate information about Board updates and decisions as they relate to combating hate and racism. Questions and Answers have been prepared to provide additional information - should you have any additional questions, please email me. 

If you are a staff or a student or a parent/caregiver, and you are a victim of/or witnessing an incident of racism, bias, or hate in our schools, please report it to the school's principal, who has a duty to investigate all incidents. Each time an incident takes place in a school, it is to be recorded in the portal I previously referenced which then begins a system response. We have a responsibility to educate against hate. For more information, please visit the webpage for Reporting an Incident of Hate or Discrimination Involving or Impacting Students. If you experience it, or witness it, report it. Please. If you are concerned your complaint is not being taken seriously after you follow the Parent Concern Protocol, please let me know.

For incidents involving and impacting students, the following procedures can apply: Reporting and Responding to Racism and Hate Incidents Involving or Impacting Students in Schools, PR728 Parent Concern Protocol, PR505 Caring and Safe Schools related procedures

For employee complaints, the following procedures can apply: Workplace Harassment Prevention and Human Rights, PR515 (for employee conduct alleged to be a human rights violation or Code-based workplace harassment) Non-Code Based Workplace Harassment, PR740

In some circumstances an incident entered into the RBH portal may be a breach of the Criminal Code through the incitement of hate; in which case, the incident must also be reported to the police in accordance with PR728.

Complaints regarding social media postings should be sent directly to the TDSB's Human Rights Office at humanrightsoffice@tdsb.on.ca. The intake process is being centralized in the Human Rights Office to ensure for consistency of process.

If you witness something inside the community, report any allegations of hate-motivated crimes to police for investigation at 416-808-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. The Police state they will not tolerate any intimidation, harassment, or hate-motivated behaviour aimed at specific communities. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS to Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Please remember TDSB's Mental Health and Well Being Professional Support Staff (PSS) are here to support your mental health and well-being and to help you navigate the tools and resources you may need. Please see resources on their website.

As you may be aware, during the school year, school staff participate in a number of Professional Activity (PA) Days. On these dates, students remain at home and schools are open for staff to engage in professional learning. As per Ministry requirements, detailed information about planned activities will be posted to the TDSB public website at least 14 days in advance of each scheduled PA Day during the 2024-25 school year. I encourage you to visit the PA Day web page to learn more and check back throughout the school year. 

Note: the next PA Day for the 2024-25 school year is January 17, 2025 for elementary students and January 30, 2025 for secondary students.

Please ensure you check for Days of Significance before scheduling student and community events - as the TDSB is currently reviewing ours - for 2024-25, the TDSB will only publish a Faith/Creed-Based Holy Days Calendar and an Indigenous Days of Significance Calendar. For now, please check the Multi-Faith calendar available online https://multifaithcalendar.org/cal/index.php.

We are excited to announce that the Winter Well-Being Guide 2024-2025 is now available. The Guide is prepared by the Mental Health and Well-Being Committee, in collaboration with the Mental Health Leads and the System Leader for Mental Health and Professional Support Services.

The Winter Well-Being Guide 2024-2025 offers updated, culturally relevant, and responsive resources to support students and parents/caregivers/guardians in fostering mental and physical wellness during the winter months. It also includes specific supports tailored for students with disabilities and complex needs.

To ensure accessibility for our diverse community, the guide has been translated into the top spoken languages within the TDSB. You can access it here: The Winter Well-Being Guide 2024-2025.

Winter Clothing Drive - As winter approaches, many members of our community will face the harsh realities of cold weather without adequate clothing. That is why TDSB is organizing a Winter Outerwear Drive to collect funds that will be put towards the purchase of warm coats, hats, gloves, and boots for students. The TDSB Winter Outerwear Drive has raised over $1.3-million in monetary and in-kind donations since 2021. 

The needs of TDSB families are greater than ever. These items represent a difficult purchase for many families, especially this year. Donate: To make a monetary donation, please click the link below. 100% of the donation value is eligible for a tax receipt. Donate to the Winter Clothing Drive 100% of all proceeds and in-kind donations benefit TDSB students. This year’s Winter Outerwear Drive will run from November to the end of February 2025. 

Have your Say - Let the Province Know What to Prioritize in the Budget

The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will meet to conduct Pre-Budget Consultations. The Committee intends to hold public hearings in Toronto on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 and other places in Ontario on different days. Interested people who wish to be considered to make an oral presentation to the Committee in Toronto are required to register by: 5:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Those who do not wish to make an oral presentation but wish to comment on the issue may send a written submission by 7:00 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. To register or send a written submission, please visit the following link: ola.org/en/apply-committees. 

Learn4Life - Winter classes are filling up! Don't miss out on your chance to make the most of 2025 — classes begin on January 11, 2025

Stuck on what to get your friend or loved one for the Holidays? We got you covered, scroll down to learn more about giving the gift of a Learn4Life course!

Led by expert instructors, Learn4Life offers courses in Arts, Business, Computers, Cooking, Crafts, Dance, Finance, Fitness, Languages, Music, Sports, Sewing, and much more!

Please visit learn4life.ca to learn more.

2025 Prime Minister's Awards for Teachers and Early Childhood Educators

Teachers and ECEs are inspiring children in all areas of life, from science and math to schoolyard interactions. Consider nominating an educator for a 2025 Prime Minister’s Award! 

Closes January 15th!

Diverse Minds 2025

Calling all high school students, bring your words to life with the power of storytelling. Enter our Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition for 2025! For more details or to enter the competition, click here: http://diverseminds.ca.

Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to once again offer a series of drop-in sessions designed for parents/ guardians/caregivers on navigating special education resources and supports within the TDSB.

These informal gatherings provide a welcoming space for parents to learn about available services, ask questions, and connect with other families.
Facilitators will guide discussions on topics such as supporting student
transitions and exploring occupational therapy/ physiotherapy strategies to use at home with students. All drop-in sessions for the 2024-2025 school year can be found here.

TDSB Special Education Department Family Sessions
Drop-In Q & A with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Staff - Receive general OT/PT strategies for your child(ren) / Chat with other parents/caregivers; Ask questions.

If you require translation services or have any questions or concerns, please email:
Learning Centre 1 - Rhanda Craig: rhanda.craig@tdsb.on.ca and Leslie Hopkins: leslie.hopkins@tdsb.on.ca Learning Centre 2 - Anna Lin: anna.lin@tdsb.on.ca and Andrea Wiltsie: andrea.wiltsie@tdsb.on.ca
Get the link here Sensory and Motor team parent/guardian/caregiver VOH flyer

I have been communicating issues we have been having with dogs on school property with every update. Now, as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and welcoming environment on TDSB properties, we would like to update you on the policies and new reporting procedures related to dogs on school grounds.

The TDSB enforces a strict policy regarding dogs on its properties. Dogs are generally not permitted on TDSB grounds, with the exception of service animals as defined by the Student Use of Service Animals in Schools Policy (P096) and the Use of Service Animals by the General Public Procedure (PR604). These guidelines are in place to ensure proper management and support for service animals within our schools.

New Reporting Process for Dogs Off-Leash

To effectively address incidents of dogs being off-leash on school properties, a new reporting process has been established through the City of Toronto’s 311 service. Community members can report such incidents either by phone or online:

Phone Reporting: Call 311 to report dogs off-leash on school property

Online Reporting: Visit the City of Toronto Service Request or Feedback webpage.

If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.

If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.

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